The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #38316   Message #538866
Posted By: Steve Parkes
31-Aug-01 - 09:17 AM
Thread Name: Litotes in song
Subject: RE: Litotes in song
Well, let's see ...
The repetitions don't count, because they're a feature of the verse structure
"The boys" is a ... thingy--where we're not referring to any specific boys, but any generalised boys either indidvidually or in groups
"I ain't unavailable" is litotes
"lie to tease" is a pun

That's three; have I missed any? Yes!! Just realised:
scansion--the deliberate insertion of extra syllables in lines three and four for comic effect

Steve